Sensing that Kerala CPM is trying to lure away Congress ally Kerala Congress (Mani) to try a toppling attempt on the Oommen Chandy government, the state Congress is now working overtime to drive a wedge within the 8-MLA regional party led by KM Mani. A little bird says the state Congress is cultivating 'the PJ Joseph group' within the regional party to ensure a split among the eight MLAs in the event of Mani pulling out of UDF.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Normal life across Kerala was today disrupted due to a day-long state-wide hartal called by BJP today demanding resignation of Finance Minister K M Mani in the wake of graft charges against him in the bar bribery scam. Buses, taxis and autorickshaws kept off the roads and shops remained closed all over the state. No untoward incidents were reported from any part of the state, police said. Government offices, including the secretariat here functioned...

KOCHI: Unremorseful over his controversial 'joker' remarks against Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi despite his suspension, former Kerala Minister T H Mustafa today said he had not committed anything wrong. Mustafa, suspended from the party for his May 28 remarks, told reporters here that he had not called Gandhi a 'Joker', but only said he was 'acting like a joker' and "there is nothing wrong in saying so. " His remarks (in the backdrop of...

KOCHI: Charges of minority appeasement, a fresh debate on women's emancipation, and widening chasm between the old guard and the youth of the powerful Indian Union Muslim League — the biggest coalition partner of the Congressled UDF government in Kerala — are making the latest move by a group of Muslim organisations in Kerala a political hot potato that the Congress is desperately trying to distance itself from. On Sunday, a day after leaders of nine Muslim...

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In what is seen as a fallout of the bar bribe scam troubling the ruling Congress-led UDF in Kerala, Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai has resigned as Chairman of the State Forward Communities Welfare Corporation. Pillai, who has been critical of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's stewardship of the UDF over a host of issues, sent his resignation to the Chief Minister through a party functionary on Sunday, KC(B ) sources said. A long-time player...

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress leading the ruling UDF in Kerala today virtually favoured expelling minor partner Kerala Congress (B), headed by R Balakrishna Pillai , from the coalition in the wake of his charges against Finance Minister K M Mani in the bar bribe scam. "Statements against the Front leaders by remaining in theFront has created crisis in the coalition," senior congress leader and KPCC spokesman M M Hassan told...

By Nabeel Mohideen It doesn't take years of diplomatic experience at the United Nations to figure out that there was no other option for Shashi Tharoor but to accept Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat challenge. So for his state unit to attack him on this count is a matter of breathtaking hypocrisy, especially since the honourable MP's constituency could do with a thorough cleanup, and not just of its gutters and the garbage that piles up when no one's looking. Of...

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress leading the ruling UDF in Kerala today virtually favoured expelling minor partner Kerala Congress (B), headed by R Balakrishna Pillai , from the coalition in the wake of his charges against Finance Minister K M Mani in the bar bribe scam. "Statements against the Front leaders by remaining in theFront has created crisis in the coalition," senior congress leader and KPCC spokesman M M Hassan told...

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today emphasised the need for strengthening unity in the Kerala unit of the party. Gandhi, who interacted with senior Congress functionaries and leaders of UDF allies, said internal issues in the state unit should be resolved through discussions. "Whatever little problems are there in the party will be resolved," Gandhi said during a brief chat with meidapersons. Later,...

NEW DELHI: The Congress-led UPA's eleventh-hour effort to safeguard the party's electoral prospects in Kerala may not yield results. The environment ministry's office memorandum on the implementation of the Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats late on Tuesday, allowing Kerala to alter the boundaries of the ecological sensitive areas may not be enough to either stave off attacks from the Left Democratic Front or quell panic within the ruling ...

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM; Expressing resentment at party MP Shashi Tharoor praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Congress' Kerala unit today decided to submit a report to the party high command seeking suitable action in the matter. KPCC president VM Sudheeran said praises lavished on Modi repeatedly by Tharoor had hurt Congress and UDF workers who worked sincerely and tirelessly for his victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha...

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Assembly was adjourned for the day after CPI(M) led LDF opposition members stalled proceedings, demanding resignation of Finance Minister KM Mani , against whom a graft case has been registered. As soon the session began, LDF members were on their feet seeking leave for an adjournment motion on the case registered by Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on the bar bribery scam and started shouting slogans when their plea was rejected by...

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Finance Minister K.M. Mani is possibly India's longest-serving legislator having won every election to the assembly since 1965. But things turned sour for the 81-year-old minister after a corruption case was filed against him for allegedly receiving a Rs.1 crore bribe to reopen the closed bars in the state. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau recently filed a case at a special vigilance court against Mani over allegations that the...

THIRUVANTHAPURAM: Mounting a grim attack on the Congress led UDF government in Kerala over bar bribery scam, CPI-M led LDF Opposition today stalled assembly proceedings demanding resignation of Finance Minister K M Mani in the wake of Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau filing an FIR against him in the case. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Mani himself turned down the opposition demand resulting in slogan shouting and floating of banners by LDF members...

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today emphasised the need for strengthening unity in the Kerala unit of the party. Gandhi, who interacted with senior Congress functionaries and leaders of UDF allies, said internal issues in the state unit should be resolved through discussions. "Whatever little problems are there in the party will be resolved," Gandhi said during a brief chat with meidapersons. Later,...

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress-led UDF government in Kerala today faced embarrassment in the Assembly after an MLA in the treasury benches raised corruption charges against the Public Works Department Ministry headed by V K Ebrahim Kunju. Former state minister K B Ganesh Kumar of Kerala Congress (B), who is not in good terms with the UDF after his exit from the Ministry last year, alleged that "the PWD Ministry, headed by the minister from Indian Union Muslim League...

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sashi Tharoor's removal as Congress national spokesperson, at the behest of the Kerala unit of the party, appears to be a rare occasion when Congress leaders in the state buried their legendary factionalism and sought action as one single unit. The action has come after Tharoor accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invite to join the Clean India campaign by saying he was honoured. And the moment this became public, various groups of the...

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress in Kerala today warned Shashi Tharoor against praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the former Union Minister set the record straight holding that he is a "proud Congressman" and had not even remotely endorsed the "Hindutva agenda" of the BJP. Signalling that disciplinary action would be contemplated against Tharoor if he kept on lauding Modi's initiatives, KPCC Vice President M M Hassan said, "As a first...

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Assembly today witnessed ruckus over the bar bribery row involving Finance Minister KM Mani leading to suspension of a CPI-M MLA and censure of four others, besides abrupt adjournment of the House for the day. Deputy Speaker N Sakthan adjourned the House after swiftly taking up the scheduled agenda amidst slogan shouting and protest by the LDF-led Opposition demanding resignation of Mani. CPI-M member V Sivankutty was...

NEW DELHI: Election Commission (EC) today issued showcause notices to 20 political parties including Congress, BJP and Aam Aadmi Party for failing to file poll expenditure statements within the stipulated time. The EC also warned these parties that it would withdraw their recognition if these statements, pertaining to recently held Assembly and General elections, are not filed and sent to it within the next fortnight. "Final opportunity is...